Mercedes 2002 Annual Report Download - page 42
Download and view the complete annual report
Please find page 42 of the 2002 Mercedes annual report below. You can navigate through the pages in the report by either clicking on the pages listed below, or by using the keyword search tool below to find specific information within the annual report.-
1 -
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
-
6
-
7
-
8
-
9
-
10
-
11
-
12
-
13
-
14
-
15
-
16
-
17
-
18
-
19
-
20
-
21
-
22
-
23
-
24
-
25
-
26
-
27
-
28
-
29
-
30
-
31
-
32 -
33 -
34 -
35 -
36 -
37 -
38 -
39 -
40 -
41 -
42 -
43 -
44 -
45 -
46 -
47 -
48 -
49 -
50 -
51 -
52 -
53
-
54
-
55
-
56
-
57
-
58
-
59
-
60
-
61
-
62
-
63
-
64
-
65
-
66
-
67
-
68
-
69
-
70
-
71
-
72
-
73
-
74
-
75
-
76
-
77
-
78
-
79
-
80
-
81
-
82
-
83
-
84
-
85
-
86
-
87
-
88
-
89
-
90
-
91
-
92
-
93
-
94
-
95
-
96
-
97
-
98
-
99
-
100
-
101
-
102
-
103
-
104
-
105
-
106
-
107
-
108
-
109
-
110
-
111
-
112
-
113
-
114
-
115
-
116
-
117
-
118
-
119
-
120
-
121
-
122
-
123
-
124
-
125
-
126
-
127
-
128
-
129
-
130
-
131
-
132
-
133
-
134
-
135
-
136
-
137
-
138
-
139
-
140
-
141
-
142
-
143
-
144
-
145
-
146
-
147
-
148
-
149
-
150
-
151
-
152
-
153
-
154
-
155
-
156
-
157
-
158
-
159
-
160
-
161
-
162
-
163
-
164
-
165
-
166
 |
 |
36 |Commercial Vehicles
Preparing for the future, the business unit has been
investing in new products and production facilities. A
new medium-duty Freightliner truck, the Business Class
M2, was launched in February 2002. The Sterling and
Western Star brands have also introduced new products
and new equipment variants. As part of the restruc-
turing program, production of Western Star trucks was
transferred to the plant in Portland, Oregon. A new
factory for Thomas Built Buses will reach full production
capacity in early 2004. In addition, as foreseen by the
restructuring plan, work has begun on consolidating
production of American LaFrance fire trucks and auxil-
iary vehicles in Charleston, South Carolina.
Mercedes-Benz Trucks remains successful
in a difficult market environment
Unit sales at the Mercedes-Benz Trucks business unit
fell by 6% from 2001, to 101,700 vehicles. The primary
reason was the slowdown in the Western European
market, especially in Germany. Nevertheless, with
60,300 units sold (2001: 67,300) and a market share of
21% (2001: 21%), Mercedes-Benz was once again the
leading brand in Western Europe for trucks over six
metric tons. The Axor heavy-duty truck was introduced
at the end of 2001, and was well received by customers,
who were attracted by its economy and large capacity.
Through the success of this new vehicle and the con-
tinued excellent market position of the Actros, we were
able to increase our share of the market in Western
Europe to 18% (2001: 17%) in the high-margin segment
of semi-trailer trucks above 16 metric tons.
The business unit posted considerably higher unit
sales in markets outside Western Europe, with 21% of all
trucks produced in Europe sold in countries outside this
region. The Actros was particularly successful, with
more than 10,000 units being sold in these markets. The
most important of these markets were Eastern Europe,
the Near and Middle East and South Africa.
Despite the continuing slowdown in South America,
the business unit sold 21,800 Mercedes-Benz trucks in
the region (2001: 23,700). In Brazil and Argentina, it
maintained its lead with market shares of 34% (2001:
34%) and 33% (2001: 35%), respectively.
Upper picture: The Mercedes-Benz Travego embodies the elegant tour-bus
generation of the future, harmoniously blending innovative and distinctive
design with Mercedes-Benz-specific brand elements.
Lower picture: The Sterling Acterra is today’s answer to customers’ need for a
medium-duty truck designed for best-in-class maneuverability, ride, handling
and ruggedness.